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By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(August 21, 2011)

BROOKLYN, Mich.—Michigan finally unrolled the welcome mat for Kyle Busch, the first official member of the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Busch got his first Sprint Cup Series victory at Michigan International Speedway in his 14th start at the 2.0-mile track, holding off Jimmie Johnson in a green-white-checkered-flag finish to win Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400.

Busch beat Johnson to the finish line by .568 seconds to claim his series-best fourth victory of the season and the 23rd of his career. Busch kept Johnson winless at Michigan, one of five active tracks on the Cup circuit where the five-time champion hasn’t been to victory lane.

Brad Keselowski continued his recent surge with a third-place run, followed by Mark Martin and Ryan Newman. Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth completed the top 10.

Continue reading “Michigan Race Recap – Kyle Busch Wins, Clinches Chase Spot”

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Four Drivers May Lock Up Chase Spots This Weekend

This is usually the time drivers start to gobble up Chase spots.

Four drivers can clinch this weekend at Michigan. Leaving this weekend, to officially clinch a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, a driver has to have a 145-point lead over 11th place.

Those who can mathematically clinch this weekend: Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick. Busch and Edwards are currently 118 points ahead of 11th. Johnson is 112 and Harvick is 104.

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Keselowski, Hamlin Remain In Wild Card Spots

Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin both came into the weekend holding coveted Wild Card positions. They remain holding them after vastly different races at Watkins Glen.

Keselowski, who returns to his home track of Michigan this weekend, finished second, again fighting through a broken left ankle.

Hamlin struggled, finishing 36th after a late-race wreck. Hamlin has won two of the last three races at Michigan.

Also keep an eye on Paul Menard. A winner at Indianapolis, Menard now sits 15th in points.

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 9, 2011) – The No. 13 team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the No. 6 and 14 teams that compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series were penalized Tuesday as a result of rules violations committed this past weekend.

The No. 13 truck was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR Officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20B-12.8.1D (truck failed to meet maximum right rear bed panel height) of the 2011 NASCAR rule book.

Continue reading “Johnny Sauter truck too low, points lead vanishes”